Transport mixer



\iil 3%, 50 E. D. HUNKINS 2,509,367

TRANSPORT MIXER Filed June 9, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 f] XNVENTORI I ZWM HIS ATTORNEY L11 1950 E. D. HUNKINS ,5U9,8fi 7 TRANSPORT MIXER Filed June 9, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

I HIS ATTORNEY ii 30, 1950 HUNKlNs 2509,86?

TRANSPORT MIXER Filed June 9, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5.

HIS ATTORNEYS.

s m K N u H D E TRANSPORT MIXER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 9, 1948 f HIS ATTORNE Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED STATES OFFICE TRANSPORT MIXER Application June 9, 1948, Serial No. 31,918

13 Claims.

This invention relates to material mixers and is more particularly directed to an improved transport mixer that is to be carried by a motor truck chassis.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved concrete mixer that employs an agitator comprising two substantially semi-cylindrical members disposed adjacent each other on a common shaft and on opposite sides of the shaft in such a manner that the agitator is balanced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a belt drive for the agitator of a transport mixer which may be easily disengaged whenever the mixer is not in use.

still another object of the invention is to provide a drive for the agitator of a transport mixer that employs a differential mechanism tiltably disposed on a suitable support, in which the differential is belt-connected to the agitator and in which a driving connection is established by tilting the differential mechanism so as to bring the belt into operative engagement with a driving pulley on the motor truck propeller shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide an agitator for a transport mixer having a pivr otally mounted scoop thereon which is moved radially outwardly in order to secure a more complete evacuation of material from the container in which the agitator is rotatably mounted.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elcvational view of the transport mixer;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the transport mixer,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-.-4 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially midway through the rotor,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the ejection scoop mounted on the agitator.

Fig. 7 is a section view of the container taken substantially along the line 1-1 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the agitator but omitting certain operating parts.

Referring now to the drawings (Fig. 1), numeral I generally designates the chassis of a motor truck upon which the mixer is mounted, which comprisesa casing 2 that is generally rectangular in shape in plan and is provided with a semi-cylindrical bottom whose longitudinal axis is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the chassis I. Suitablesupports 3, having semi-cylindrical openings therein, are provided in which the casing 2 rests, the supports .3 being mounted on the chassis I. One of the side walls and preferably the rear wall of the casing 2, has a discharge opening Al therein provided with a suitable closure 5 that is pivotally supported on the rear wall and is manually moved outwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 6, in order to permit material to be ejected from the casing 2. A suitable fixture 6 is secured to the rear wall of the casing that directs the ejected material onto a trough l as is customary in the art.

In order to facilitate the mixing of the material in the casing, there is disposed across each of the corners thereof, wall sections 8 .in the manner illustrated and suitably secured in position, such as by welding, or any other appropriate method. In the semi-cylindrical bottom of the casing, the wall sections 8 are joined to conic sections 9 that are also disposed across the corners of the container in a manner such that they center about the axis of rotation of the agitator I0 so that a smooth path is provided in the connection between the wall sections 8 and conic sections 9. This produces a container having a mixing space that is substantially octagonal in form at the top and is semi-cylindrical at its base.

The agitator Ill is made up of two similar frames ll shaped generally as shown in Fig. 5. These frames are disposed adjacent to each other on shaft 13 and apart thereon so that the entire structure will be in balance. The shaft has three disc members M mounted thereon axially spaced along said shaft and radially spaced from the discs I4 are four segments of discs 15 that circumscribe the shaft 13. Two of these are in substantial alignment with one of the discs l4 and each of the other two are in alignment with the discs. Two of these discs are spaced and aligned axially with respect to the shaft 13 on one side thereof and the others are similarly placed about the shaft l3 but circumferentially spaced 180 from the first two. A segment of a tube It is spaced between each pair of disc segments along the inner radius thereof. The disc segments are held in radially spaced relationship by spokes ll. The spokes 51 supporting the ends of the disc segments are disposed at an angle between outer discs l4 and inner disc segments 15, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, so as to connect the disc segments and discs into a rigid structure. To assist in agitating and lifting the material in the octagonal container a plurality .of paddles or bars i8 is disposed across the channels formed by the disc segments [5 and tube segments It. The bars l8 lift material to the discharge opening 4 and when closure 5 is open, material will be discharged therethrough.

A suitable aperture 20 is cut into each tube segment l6 and secured to one edge thereof is one edge of flexible hinge l9 that is preferably made of some rubber-like material. Secured to the other edge of the hinge is a lip 2! whose ends are provided with wings 22. The lips, when lifted radially outwardly, form a scoop with the wall of easing 2 to lift material being mixed to outlet 4 for discharge whenever closure 5 is open. The lip is held in a radially outward position by a lever 23 preferably of resilient material, that is pivoted at its one end to the underside of each tube segment l5 and the other end of the lever is adapted to engage a bracket 24 secured to hinge I9 as is shown in Fig. 6. The lever 23 is positioned as in said figure when the container has only a small amount of material therein, the paddles l8 ordinarily being capable of lifting most of the material up to the discharge opening 4. The material in the end zones of the container opposite conic sections 9 is agitated by brackets 26. The hinges iii are supported not only on the tube section l6 but on auxiliary supports extending partly across the space opposite the adjacent agitator frame ll so that each lip 2| will be in substantial alignment with the discharge opening 4.

The shaft i3 is rotatably supported in bearings 21 suitably secured to two opposite side walls of the casing 2. One bearing is closed by a cap 28 also suitably secured to one of the side Walls. A stub shaft 29 provided with an enlargement 30 is received in the shaft iii, the enlargement being received in the cooperating bearing 27. The stub shaft 29 is held in shaft is by means of screws 3i and complemental configurations thereon so as to prevent relative rotation between stub shaft 29 and shaft It in order that the agitator Ill will be rotated, the direction of rotation being indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6.

A sprocket wheel 35 is suitabl secured to the stub shaft 29. This sprocket wheel is connected to a second sprocket wheel 36 by means of a chain 31 and constitutes a speed reduced for the agitator device. The sprocket wheel 36 is suitably secured to a shaft 38 which is the output side of a speed reducing and preferably a differential mechanism 39. The differential mechanism is provided with sleeve members an that are rotatably supported in brackets 4! disposed adjacent the container 2. the brackets 4! being mounted on supports The shaft (not shown) opposite to and aligned with shaft 38 is suitably held in sleeve 40 associated therewith, this being necessary so that shaft 38 will rotate. The input shaft 42 of the differential 39 has a V-belt pulley 43 thereon that is aligned with another 'V-belt pulley 44 supported on the drive shaft for the vehicle chassis and is driven by the vehicle prime mover. One of the sleeves 40 has a bracket 45 secured thereon to which one end of a lever 46 is connected. Another lever 4'! is pivoted at its one end to the chassis frame member and its opposite end is provided with a handle 48. A

third lever 49 is pivoted to the unpivoted end of lever 46 and to the lever 41 a short distance from its pivot point on the chassis frame. The lever 45 is provided with a bracket 56 to limit the motion of lever 49 towards the front end of chassis l. When the levers are in the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 1, the V-belts 5|, connecting pulleys 43 and 44, are slack and no power will be transmitted to the agitator I2.

When the levers 41, 49 and 46 are in the full line position, then the V-belts 5| will be taut and power will be transmitted through the differential device 39 and the sprocket and chain power transmission in order to rotate the agitator. The V-belt differential construction eliminates the necessity of a clutch and materially simplifies the mechanical construction and constitutes a positive drive for the agitator and does not require the attention that conventional clutch constructions do. All operatin parts of this type of transmission are readily accessible to thereby materially simplify the servicing or replacements that may be necessary from time to time.

What I claim is:

1. A material mixer comprising a rectangular casing provided with a semi-cylindrical closed bottom and vertical side walls; a wall member disposed across each corner of said casing; a cone shaped corner section at each end of said closed bottom joining with the abutting corner wall members to thereby form a substantially octagonal container for the receipt of material; an agitator rotatably mounted in said container; and an arm mounted on each end of said agitator cooperating with said wall members and with the cone-shaped sections.

2. A material mixer comprising a rectangular casing provided with a semi-cylindrical bottom and vertical side walls; a wall disposed across each corner of said casing; a wall in the shape of the segment of a cone in each end of the semicylindrical bottom and joined to the abutting corner wall; an agitator rotatably mounted in said casing; and arms mounted on each end of said agitator to cooperate with said cone shaped corner walls for agitating material lying in the path of rotation of said arms.

3. A material mixer comprising a rectangular casing provided with a semi-cylindrical bottom and vertical side walls and having a discharge opening in one of said side walls; a wall disposed across each corner of said casing; a wall in the shape of a segment of a cone in each end of said semi-cylindrical bottom that is joined to abutting corner walls; an agitator rotatably mounted in said casing; arms mounted on each end of said agitator to cooperate with said cone segment walls to agitate material lying in the path of rotation of said arms; and scoops mounted on said agitator for lifting the material up to said discharge opening.

4. A material mixer comprising a rectangular casing provided with a semi-cylindrical bottom and vertical side walls; a Wall disposed across each corner of said casing; a wall in the shape of the segment of a cone arranged in each end of said semi-cylindrical base and joined to abutting corner walls; an agitator rotatably mounted. in said casing; arms mounted on each end of said agitator for cooperating with said cone segment Walls for agitating material lying in the path of rotation of said arms; scoops mounted on said agitator for lifting the material up to said discharge opening; and means for moving said scoops radially outwardly to enable them to elevate all of the material up to said discharge opening.

5. A material mixer comprising a rectangular casing provided with a semi-cylindrical bottom and vertical side Walls and having a discharge opening in one of said side walls; a wall disposed across each corner of said casing; a wall in the form of a segment of a cone arranged in each end of said semi-cylindrical bottom and that is joined to abutting corner walls; an agitator consisting of two juxtapositioned semi-cylindrical frame members diametrically disposed and secured together rotatably supported in said casing; a material scoop supported in each member near the periphery thereof for litfing material up to said discharge opening; means for pivotally supporting each scoop in said member; means for positioning said scoop radially outwardly with reference to said agitator; and means on each end of said agitator for agitating material in contact with and supported by said cone segment walls.

6. A material mixer comprising a rectangular casing provided with a semi-cylindrical bottom and vertical side walls and having a discharge opening in one of said side walls; a wall disposed across each corner of said casing; a wall in the form of a segment of a cone arranged in each end of said semi-cylindrical bottom and joined to abutting corner walls; an agitator consisting of two juxtapositioned members diametrically disposed and secured together rotatably supported in said casing; a material scoop supported in each member near the periphery thereof for lifting material up to said discharge opening; means for positioning said scoop radially outwardly with reference to said agitator; and means on each end of said agitator for agitating material in contact with and supported by said cone segment walls.

7. A material mixer comprising a container having an octagonal shaped upper portion whose side walls are vertical; a semi-cylindrical bottom for said container; conic wall sections arranged at each end of said bottom and Whose ends are joined to four of the vertical walls of said container, and other of the vertical walls of the container being joined to said container bottom; an agitator rotatably mounted in said container; and arms mounted on said agitator for mixing material resting on said conic sections.

8. A material mixer comprisin a container having an octagonal shape whose side walls are vertical; a semi-cylindrical bottom for said container; conic wall sections arranged at each end of said bottom and whose ends are joined to four of the walls of said container, and other of the vertical walls of the container being joined to said container bottom; and an agitator rotatably mounted in said container.

9. A material mixer comprising a container being octagonal in plan and having vertical side walls, one of the walls having a discharge opening cut therein; a semi-cylindrical bottom for said container; conic wall sections arranged at each end of said bottom and whose ends are secured to four of the walls of said container, and other of the vertical walls being secured to said container bottom; an agitator rotatably mounted in said container; arms mounted on each end of said agitator for cooperating with said cone segment walls for agitatin material lying in the path of rotation of said arms; scoops mounted on said agitator for lifting the material up to said discharge opening; and means for moving said scoops radially outwardly to enable them to elevate all of the material up to said discharge opening.

10. A material mixer comprising a container being octagonal in plan and having vertical side walls, one of the walls having a discharge opening cut therein; a semi-cylindrical bottom for said container; conic wall sections arranged at each end of said bottom and whose ends are secured to four of the walls of said container, and other of the vertical walls being secured to said container bottom; an agitator consistin of two juxtapositioned semi-cylindrical frame members diametrically disposed and secured together rotatably supported in said container; a material scoop supported in each member near the periphery thereof for lifting material up to said discharge opening; means for pivotally supporting each scoop in said member; means for positioning said scoop radially outwardly with reference to said agitator; and means on each end of said agitator for agitating material in contact with and supported by said cone segment walls.

11. A material mixer comprising an octagonal container provided with vertical side walls and having a discharge opening in one of said side walls; a semi-cylindrical bottom for said container to which two of said vertical walls are secured; a wall in the form of a segment of a cone arranged at each end of said semi-cylindrical bottom and Whose ends are joined to the adjoining end of four of said vertical walls; an agitator consisting of two juxtapositioned members diametrically disposed and secured together; a ma terial scoop supported in each member near the periphery thereof for lifting material up to said discharge opening; means for positioning said scoop radially outwardly with reference to said agitator; and means on each end of said agitator for agitatin material in contact with and supported by said cone segment walls.

12. A material mixer comprising a container having a polygonal shaped upper portion whose side walls are vertical; a semi-cylindrical bottom for said container; conic wall sections arranged at each end of said bottom and whose ends are joined to some of the vertical walls of said container, and other of the vertical walls of the container being joined to said container bottom; an agitator rotatably mounted in said container; and arms mounted on said agitator for mixing material resting on said conic sections.

13. A material mixer comprising a container having a polygonal shape whose side walls are vertical; a semi-cylindrical bottom for said container; conic wall sections arranged at each end of said bottom and whose ends are joined to some of the walls of said container; other of the vertical walls of the container being joined to said container bottom; and an agitator rotatably mounted in said container.

EVERETT DEMMING HUNKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 987,974 Fisher Mar. 28, 1911 1,479,189 Laukhufi Jan. 1, 1924 1,519,746 Valerius Dec. 16, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 540,334 Germany Dec. 12, 1931 571,485 Germany Mar. 1, 1933 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,509,867

EVERETT DEMMING HUNKINS It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 3, line 46, for reduced read reducer; column 5, line 6, for litfing read lifting; lines 23 and 24, strike out rotatably supported in said casing; column 6, line 26, for end read ends;

May so, 1950 and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oifice.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of December, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommissz'oner of Patents. 

